Nitroglycerin

Ingredients

• nitric acid
  • 20ml
• sulfuric acid
  • 20ml
• glycerin
• sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

Equipment

• pan filled with ice water
• beakers

Notes

1. Nitric and sulfuric acid mixture is the pathway to the nitration of glycerine.
2. The amount of glycerin you add is roughly the amount of nitroglycerin yield

Procedure

1. Pour sulfuric acid and nitric acid into a beaker
2. set beaker in ice water
   1. this reaction generates alot of heat
   2. water should not flow into the beaker
   3. chill the solution until its temperature is equal to or below 15 degrees celcius
3. Slowly add glycerin
   1. Stir mixture (use glass or ceramic)
4. Once a visible layer has formed on top, dilute acid
   1. Fill the beaker the rest of the way with water
   2. The nitroglycering with sink to the bottom
5. Add baking soda to neutralize the acid solution
6. Now extract the nitroglycerin